Auto Suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters. Use up arrow (for mozilla firefox browser alt+up arrow) and down arrow (for mozilla firefox browser alt+down arrow) to review and enter to select.

Overview

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Naxos Classic Drama) by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's intertwined love polygons begin to get complicated from the start--Demetrius and Lysander both want Hermia but she only has eyes for Lysander. Bad news is, Hermia's father wants Demetrius for a son-in-law. On the outside is Helena, whose unreturned love burns hot for Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander plan to flee from the city under cover of darkness but are pursued by an enraged Demetrius (who is himself pursued by an enraptured Helena). In the forest, unbeknownst to the mortals, Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the faeries) are having a spat over a servant boy. The plot twists up when Oberon's head mischief-maker, Puck, runs loose with a flower which causes people to fall in love with the first thing they see upon waking. Throw in a group of labourers preparing a play for the Duke's wedding (one of whom is given a donkey's head and Titania for a lover by Puck) and the complications become fantastically funny.

About the Author

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, and his birth is traditionally celebrated on April 23. The facts of his life, known from surviving documents, are sparse. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a merchant of some standing in his community. William probably went to the King’s New School in Stratford, but he had no university education. In November 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, who was pregnant with their first child, Susanna. She was born on May 26, 1583. Twins, a boy, Hamnet ( who would die at age eleven), and a girl, Judith, were born in 1585. By 1592 Shakespeare had gone to London working as an actor and already known as a playwright. A rival dramatist, Robert Greene, referred to him as “an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers.” Shakespeare became a principal shareholder and playwright of the successful acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later under James I, called the King’s Men). In 1599 the Lord Chamberlain’s Men built and occupied the Globe Theater in Southwark near the Thames River. Here many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed by the most famous actors of his time, including Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Robert Armin. In addition to his 37 plays, Shakespeare had a hand in others, including Sir Thomas More and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and he wrote poems, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. His 154 sonnets were published, probably without his authorization, in 1609. In 1611 or 1612 he gave up his lodgings in London and devoted more and more time to retirement in Stratford, though he continued writing such plays as The Tempest and Henry VII until about 1613. He died on April 23 1616, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. No collected edition of his plays was published during his life-time, but in 1623 two members of his acting company, John Heminges and Henry Condell, put together the great collection now called the First Folio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

A Midsummer Night's Dream 4.2 out of 5based on
0 ratings.
301 reviews.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I mean, if you like Shakespeare's comedies then there is no doubt you will enjoy MSND. The characters and constant malapropisms make it funny so you may have to work your way into the style of the play before the jokes are blatant ( and even then it can be hard to tell; humoor changes with generations and time). Shakespeare is a very wordy author yet there is a wa to tell that the plays were- and are- quality. In the centuries when The Globe was renouned in England the play-goers were a tough crowd; the story had to be understandable AND entertaining. The audience was not always educated so Shakespeare and to make enough stage direction, action and subtext for the story to come through. We see that much of the monolougues and conversations could be summed up into a few sentences, yet often the entertainment and humor is provided by these sylolliques.

manirul01

More than 1 year ago

Lovely...! beautiful.....!.... Just enjoy it.....!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This book can be counted as a wonderfully helpful study companion to Shakespeare&rsquo;s A Midsummer Night&rsquo;s Dream, but where it really shines is in giving me access to masterful language that needs updating for our modern ears. I love seeing Shakespeare performed, and this book gives each section a freshness in translation, a royal British historical context delivered by an author who avoids dry textbook languages like a 16th Century plague, and makes the intended humor instantly recognizable. As a study guide, it&rsquo;s perfect. As a way to truly delight in Shakespeare, this is what I want to read just before watching a film adaptation or heading to the theatre.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This is definetly worth reading. It is a true masterpiece! Also, quick sidenote to all of those who are complaining that this book was written in Old English- it wasn't. It wasn't even written in Middle English. This was written in MODERN ENGLISH!!!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

The formatting was horrible. The text looks likes one big block-- no separation even between speakers. Unreadable.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Hard to read because of typos

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Best Shakespeare Play.

ErosLover

More than 1 year ago

One of my faves!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

It's really good. And could u guys stop with the rps? Some people are acctully reviewing

Reading Shakespeare and understanding him are two different things for me. I&rsquo;m not sure about anyone else, but I need a translator when trying to wade through all of his Old English. This guide is a Godsend! I finally feel like I&rsquo;m able to both enjoy and understand the writing of one of the greatest poets and playwrights to ever exist. You don&rsquo;t really realize how helpful the modern day translation really is, until you pick up this guide. It&rsquo;s an &ldquo;Aha!&rdquo; moment stuffed in between a front and back cover. Love it!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Want an &ldquo;A&rdquo; on that next paper? This book will certainly help because Shakespeare is finally clear, just like the title of Garamond Press&rsquo; A Midsummer Night&rsquo;s Dream shakespeare made clear touts. This book makes it easy. Each Act begins with a summary and each Elizabethan line is followed by a word-for-word explanation. Literary devices, meter, historical references, imagery, poetic style&mdash;all of these are explained in very simple ways that make Shakespeare&rsquo;s words vivid and funny and sad and mischievous and romantic all at once. Isn&rsquo;t that what dreams are made of?

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

It's okay, but anomonous on may 20 is kinda right.

Anonymous

7 months ago

There are only 16 pages in this. Extremely disappointed in this. Why would there be a thing with just 16 pages. You should really tell people in the description that it doesn't include the entire play.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I would suggest getting a book like this that was not digitalized by google. It was hard too read and somewhat unenjoyable

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Awrsome i love shakespeare

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Are any of you 700 interested in drama?

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

"Why would vyoubact like you want to be then Sunny?" She muttered.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Crawls in and bumbs into Deathclaw. He giggles and scents him.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Headphone - By Britt Nichole <p>
Skip to the chorus. Sorry forgot the other. <p>
Anytime your feelin' low, put one your headphones, cuz Love- love's comin through your headphones, Lo-o-ooooovee is comin through your headphones. So keep ur head up high, and dust off ya shouldehs, its alright, NO ITS NOT OVEH! ~ Amber

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Sabine, a cream-colored she cat with a white underbelly and paws and light green eyes stumbled into the camp. &quot;Um- oops! I didn't mean to intrude, I was just exploring...&quot;

William Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. From roughly 1594 onward
he was an important member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men company of theatrical players. Written records give little indication of the way in which Shakespeare's ...

In the CliffsComplete guides, the novel's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating
numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature.CliffsComplete A ...